A retro Elvis-themed pop-up bar is open in NYC this week
Grab your blue suede shoes and and get ready for an Elvis-themed pop-up bar in NYC this week.
Adorably dubbed “Love Me (Bar)Tender,” expect wildly retro decor and Elvis-themed cocktails. It’s free to visit on October 5 and 6 with advance registration (it’s sold out, but sign up here to get alerts) at Pekarna on the Upper West Side.
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The pop-up is inspired by The Jungle Room, the den at the Presleys Graceland mansion. The room harkens back to 1965 and was decorated in Hawaiian-style decor including green shag carpet on the floor (and ceiling!), a rock waterfall and a lacquered tiki bar. The green shag carpet wasn’t just a ’60s style choice. It also lent itself to the room’s excellent acoustics, allowing Elvis to record songs such as “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “Moody Blue” at Graceland for what became known as The Jungle Room sessions.
As for the Upper West Side iteration of the room, order a cocktail and grab a seat on a furry couch next to an Elvis pillow. Retro decor—like fringed curtains, wood paneling and jungle cat statues—adorns the room. Cocktails include the “Blues On Beale” with blue curaçao, the “Burning Love” with muddled jalapeño and the “Heartbreak Hotel Highball” featuring elderflower liqueur and a bamboo leaf.
Taking Elvis’ Tennessee home as an inspiration, “Love Me (Bar)Tender” is a traveling pop-up heading around the country this fall thanks to Memphis Tourism and Elvis Presley’s Graceland. They first announced the pop-ups during Elvis Week right now (August 9-17).
“Like the Memphis destination, the ‘Love Me (Bar)Tender’ pop-up will be a unique experience that is not to be missed,” Regena Bearden, chief marketing officer at Memphis Tourism, said in a press release. “Whether you’re an Elvis fan who grew up listening to his music, or someone who loves pop-up Instagrammable experiences there’s something to this activation for everyone. We’re thrilled to be bringing this pop-up to other cities and extend an invitation to visit Memphis.”
While the experience will serve up plenty of fun in NYC, it’s intended to drive visitation to Graceland and the Memphis area. But for now, get ready to experience Tennessee in NYC very soon—just don’t get too wild or you’ll be singing “Jailhouse Rock.”